So the Kings have a relatively young guy at every position, all of whom could potentially be roleplaying starters:
PG: Beno Udrih
SG: Kevin Martin
SF: Francisco Garcia
PF: Jason Thompson
C: Spencer Hawes
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this group (as a group)? What needs to be added from a basketball sense?
Short answer: depending on Thompson, lots of offense (if he is overwhelmed, a lot of scoring, but can be stopped when teams lock down). Defensively ruinous. Boardwork, highly questionable.
However, let's play a game:
I think that Beno and Cisco could be roleplaying starters on a team with a legit superstar to lead them (I also think Cisco could be a roleplaying 6th man on a similar team). I think Kevin will never be that superstar, but I think scoringwise at least he could be a #2 scorer to a legit superstar. I think, if we are lucky, that Spenser might eventually be able to become a Big Z type #3 scorer (take a few years). That's all optimistic, but basically what that leaves you with is the supporting cast of legit superstar...and one position for that superstar to play: PF. I do not know what Jason Thompson is going to be like. I do know (or at least feel very sure) that it was Thompson's guard skills in a big man body that helped impress Geoff. And further I know that we used to have ourselves another PF with amazing guard skills that ushered in the greatest period in franchise history. So let's play a game:
C- Hawes
PF- Webber (circa 2002)
SF- Cisco
OG- Martin
PG- Beno
That would just be the dream scenario -- that Jason Thompson blossoms in remarkable fashion and steps forward as that missing superstar. So THEN how would we look? What would we need?
1)We would be shaky on the glass -- Webbthompson would be the only exceptional person, we have skinny wings, and a shaky rebounding center .
2) Defensively...we would likely need a changup. Kevin is a poor defender, Beno is smarter on that end than sometimes given credit for, but quickness challenged against the darts, Cisco makes the spectacular plays, but also makes mistakes and will be givign away 30 lbs against many SFs (Ron included), Hawes, even in his prime, figures to be no better than adequate, and even Webbthompson has little chance to be a ferocious stopper -- you just hope he can hold his own and cover some ground. So you need a stopper/leader -- something like the Christie trade (and Bobby acquisition) in 2001. I'm thinking here the best target would be Cisco's slot because of his versatility and usefulness as a 6th man type. Trade for a defensive stopper of a SF (a sane one who does not need many shots), let the new guy play Christie to Kevin's Peja, swing Cisco to the bench as the versatile Hedo guy. And then you STILL need more defense. Specifically if Webbthompson and Hawes are the frontline, the first big of the bench needs to be Pollard -- big, fullsized PF/C banger. And the backup PG needs to be a tough and fesity defender ala Bobby.
3) Offensively, assuming the perfect Webbthompson sueprstar emergence, we are potent.
So my modified lineup then is:
C- Hawes
PF- perfect fantasy Jason Thompson who grows to Webber talent
SF- unspecified sane roleplaying, not shot munching, unselfish defensive stopper
OG- Martin
PG- Udrih
6th- Cisco
7th- unspecified roleplaying big ole PF/C banger
8th- unspecified roleplaying pesky defensive minded PG
At which point obviously we are back with a similar structure to the golden era teams.
Now in the real world, where Jason Thompson maybe has < 1% chance of becoming that superstar, our issues are greater, because we still need that guy. And to say they are hard to get wouold be an understatement.
